This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/7126354.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Fierce fighting in eastern Chad | Fierce fighting in eastern Chad |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| There has been a major battle in eastern Chad, with continuing heavy fighting, a rebel group says. | There has been a major battle in eastern Chad, with continuing heavy fighting, a rebel group says. |
| The Rally of Forces for Change (RFC) says government forces attacked them at dawn 150km north of the town of Abeche. No casualty figures were given. | The Rally of Forces for Change (RFC) says government forces attacked them at dawn 150km north of the town of Abeche. No casualty figures were given. |
| The latest clashes come 24 hours after the rebels seized a number of army officers and vehicles. | The latest clashes come 24 hours after the rebels seized a number of army officers and vehicles. |
| President Idriss Deby is reportedly on the ground in eastern Chad commanding his troops. | President Idriss Deby is reportedly on the ground in eastern Chad commanding his troops. |
| His army is fighting on two separate fronts: to the south of the current battles with the RFC (led by the president's uncle, Timane Erdimi), they have also been engaging the better-equipped fighters of Mahamat Nouri's Union of Forces for Democracy and Development (UFDD). | His army is fighting on two separate fronts: to the south of the current battles with the RFC (led by the president's uncle, Timane Erdimi), they have also been engaging the better-equipped fighters of Mahamat Nouri's Union of Forces for Democracy and Development (UFDD). |
| CHAD'S REBELS RFC, led by Timane Erdimi, president's uncleUFDD, led by Mahamat NouriFUC, led by ex-Defence Minister Mahamat Nour AbdelkarimCNT class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7125389.stm">Back to battle United Nations sources say they are receiving reports that the dead and wounded already number in the thousands. | |
| The UN also warns that two other rebel groups - who along with the RFC and UFDD, signed a Libyan-brokered ceasefire a month ago - are also poised to re-enter combat. | The UN also warns that two other rebel groups - who along with the RFC and UFDD, signed a Libyan-brokered ceasefire a month ago - are also poised to re-enter combat. |
| Soldiers from recently-ousted Defence Minister Mahamat Nour Abdelkarim's United Front for Change (FUC), who had been integrating into the national army, are reportedly defecting en masse. | Soldiers from recently-ousted Defence Minister Mahamat Nour Abdelkarim's United Front for Change (FUC), who had been integrating into the national army, are reportedly defecting en masse. |
| And negotiations with a fourth rebel group, the Chadian National Concord (CNT) have also broken down, the UN says. | And negotiations with a fourth rebel group, the Chadian National Concord (CNT) have also broken down, the UN says. |
| EU warning | EU warning |
| This bleak picture coincides with a prediction that the European Union peacekeeping force (Eufor) being put together for Chad "risks becoming engulfed in the region's conflicts". | This bleak picture coincides with a prediction that the European Union peacekeeping force (Eufor) being put together for Chad "risks becoming engulfed in the region's conflicts". |
| A study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology says Eufor would need 12,500 soldiers to be effective in ensuring security of the displaced civilians in the region. | A study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology says Eufor would need 12,500 soldiers to be effective in ensuring security of the displaced civilians in the region. |
| France will supply the bulk of the Eufor peacekeeping forceThe author, Bjorn Seibert, says the planned contingent is undermanned and under-equipped for its proposed task. | France will supply the bulk of the Eufor peacekeeping forceThe author, Bjorn Seibert, says the planned contingent is undermanned and under-equipped for its proposed task. |
| France is planning to contribute the bulk of the planned 3,500 troops - but the rebels have accused France of backing the government. | France is planning to contribute the bulk of the planned 3,500 troops - but the rebels have accused France of backing the government. |
| The timetable for Eufor's deployment, initially planned for January 2008, is already slipping because of difficulties in obtaining the attack helicopters needed. | The timetable for Eufor's deployment, initially planned for January 2008, is already slipping because of difficulties in obtaining the attack helicopters needed. |
| Insiders now say it is unlikely to be operational before May 2008. | Insiders now say it is unlikely to be operational before May 2008. |
| Some of the contributor nations have expressed their alarm at rebel statements saying the Eufor will be treated as an "occupying force" and targeted for attack. | Some of the contributor nations have expressed their alarm at rebel statements saying the Eufor will be treated as an "occupying force" and targeted for attack. |